1. Chin up high

THE DARK TEMPTATIONS

THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION. ANY RESEMBLANCE TO PLACES, EVENTS OR REAL PEOPLE ARE ENTIRELY COINCIDENTAL.

AUTHOR:- Pranjal Yadav

Pen name:- Cream puff

~So what? Don't stop and worry youself, it's good for nothing. Let go. Although there is no answer yet, you can start the fight. ~

Avery opened her eyes to another marvelous day, snatched out of her dreams by the silvery chirping of the birds, this is her natural alarm. Smiling, she turned to her right in hopes of stealing some more sleep but just then her eyes fell on the clock on the bedside table. 

"Oh shit it's 7am already!? I have to open the cafe in an hour!" She pulled off the covers and jumped out of the bed. Avery stripped down her clothes and immediately made her way to the bathroom. Minutes later she was already done and while still securely wrapped in a towel, she decided on her outfit. Though she is not the one to give her outfits much thought, but thanks to her silver hair she had to.

She can't go around wearing colors like bright orange or sunny yellow or patterns that would clash with her hair. The least thing she wanted was to stand out, that too not in a good way. 

The silver hair has been the result of a bet which she lost and as punishment she had to dye her hair silver. Though she admits she looked good in silver hair and became the new sensation in the college, which her step sister Felicia didn't like a bit. Yes, step sister, she is adopted. Felicia's mom died when she was 6 and her dad adopted Avery, who was the same age, just a few months older. But ever since then Felicia had hated Avery from her very core.

At that time Avery had hope, she thought Felicia is little and the thought of sharing the love of her only parent is guiding her to all the hatred, and she will one day realize that Avery was not here to steal someone away. But now that Felicia is already 23 she has lost all hopes on her little sister and is just minding her own business. Literally. 

She picked out a baby pink summer dress and lined it with some silver jewellery and beige thigh high boots and half tied her hair. Grabbing her purse and coat she rushed down stairs to head to work.

I still have half an hour, good! she thought. Walking down the long carpeted staircase she slowed her steps. Once when they were still in middle school Felicia pushed her from the staircase and Avery was in hospital the whole following week, she had to get stitches in her belly where the skin tore and the marks were left there forever, in result she was never able to wear crop tops again. 

"Good morning dad!" She chirped as she saw her dad on the breakfast table. 

"Good morning my baby! Come let's have breakfast, it's getting cold." he said. 

"Ahh.. I'm so sorry dad but I really don't have time, I'm already getting late." She said looking at my watch. 

"Oh it's ok then I'll ask the maid to pack breakfast for you." 

"No no dad it's really ok! Alright I'll eat some at the cafe only. Happy?" She said and internally smiled at the fact that he cares so much.

"But-" he wanted to argue but Felicia interrupted.

"Let her be dad, anyway she is getting fatter and fatter eating free food everyday." she said rolling her eyes and the smile on Avery's face disappeared.

"I've told you so many times to not talk to her in this way! At least she is earning, but you?! You are completely useless! You just wander around with those shit boys day and night and get wasted in those clubs!" He yelled 

This here. Avery thought, Is what I don't want. Him comparing me to Felicia, in hopes to set an example for her. But what he doesn't realise is that's why Felicia hates me so much. 

"A little respect dad, they are my friends!" She said standing up. "And don't compare me to her! There is no comparison!"

"They are not your friend! They are just some dogs who are with you for money! And you're right, there is no comparison between a girl who goes out and faces the reality everyday to earn money even though her dad is a billionaire and a girl who is just wasting herself everyday with different boys!" Dad yelled standing up too. Avery instantly tried to calm down her dad, she always gets scared whenever her dad yells like that, he is a heart patient and he shouldn't take so much load.  

"Dad, please calm down." Avery said, grabbing his forearm and rubbing his shoulder and his dad instantly calmed down, sitting back in his seat. This always worked.

"Happy now!? You drove my dad completely against me!" Felicia yelled and stormed out of the house. 

"Huh.. What will I ever do to her?" He said, sighing.

"Don't worry dad, she will someday open her eyes." Avery said and her dad smiled at her.

"You know Avery, sometimes when I look at Felicia I could only think I failed to raise my daughter right. But then I look at you and I can't tell how proud I am of you. Even after me, I could rest assured that Felicia will be in good hands." He said placing a hand over hers. 

"What do you mean after you!? You're not going anywhere, do you get it? Don't talk like this right in the morning!" Avery said as the water formed in her eyes. Avery loves her dad very much, blood doesn't matter to both of them.

"Alright alright! Now go, you are late." He said laughing and kissed her on the temple. 

"Oh shit!." She said straight away ran out of the house. 

Although there were a lot of cars halted in the garage but Avery made a promise to herself that she will not use her dad's cars to drive to work or other places. She wanted this luxury only when she was capable enough. She will buy her own car and then drive to work with her chin high. But for now she took the subway. It's not so bad tbh, more over when the weather is so good. She had always prefered to walk on sunny days like these, It's one of the wamest days of December. 

The subway in Rome is one of the smallest in Europe but it's highly used and was packed as always. Avery saw people going to work, to shopping and on dates, all having different stories. She very curiously watches everyone around her everyday, thinking how each one is so different. 

A few minutes later she arrived at her work. Standing in front of the cafe she looked up at it proudly, just as she always does. 

Avery's choice is the biggest and the busiest cafe in the town. It started from a very small scale, but with the help of her friends and the magic of her hands she could build this beauty and no words could express how she feels about it. It's more than a dream come true, but it's still far from what she aims it to be.

Entering the cafe from the front door she saw it was already bustling with life. There were all kinds of people visiting her cafe, the school kids hanging out with each other, the old businessmen grabbing a bite before the day started and the one coming from the gym still in gym wear who couldn't resist the aroma that filled the cafe. 

A smile found its way up to Avery's lips when she saw the smiles on each one's face. Only sweets could do that. She thought to herself. The cafe was big and spacious with the pink wooden finish all over, providing warmth in the chilli weather and the perfect aesthetic look mixed with the pink camellias. There was also a little library at the corner that she builded with the books she read over the years, still as good as new. 

"Good morning boss! Good day!" Samuele the cashier greeted her. Samuele used to study in the same school as Avery. He is extremely attractive with blond hair that fall on his forehead and grey eyes that always show her love and affection. When she couldn't turn to anyone, she turned to him. He became a rehab to her and now he is helping her in her dream instead of trying his luck in a big company. She could never ask for anything more. 

"Good morning. How's it going?" She asked.

"Well as you can see our customers are increasing everyday so everything is amazing!" 

"I'm asking about you idot."

"Oh! Everything is fine really." He said, he genuinely looked happy whenever Avery asked about him or tell him she missed him, the glint in his eyes didn't go unnoticed, it only made her say it more often. 

"And how is your mom now?" 

"Well she is still in hospital but recovering really fast." He said with that cute smile.

"That's good! If you need any help I'm always here ok?" She said keeping her hand on his to show him that she meant it. 

"I know. Now go there are so many cupcake orders and they all are going nuts without you!" he said ushering towards the kitchen.   

Avery made her way to the kitchen and soon as she entered all eyes fell on her and everyone visibly took a sigh of relief. 

"Finally you're here! We have orders for at least 20 cupcakes of all different kinds and I don't know what to do I tried so many times but they don't taste like yours at all!" Nora came to her all of a sudden, panic written all over her face.

"Nora! First of all, calm down. Here, have some water." Avery said, making her sit on the chair. 

"I've got it ok. You can rest a bit." Avery said and instantly got to work, wearing an apron and tying her hair in a tight bun. She tasted the batter of the cupcakes and instantly knew what all was missing. Avery's speciality is cupcakes, all the chefs in her kitchen have tried to make one like her but could never get them to taste the same. It's like there is some magic in her hands and that magic alone is the secret for the popularity of the cafe.

"Two blueberry cupcakes and a caramel macchiato." Tia came in with the orders.  

"Blueberry cupcakes coming right up." Avery said as she divided the batter to add different flavours. Tia came to stand beside her. 

"Oh my god Avery you will go blind if you see who ordered these blueberry cupcakes!." Tia chirped.

"Oh really? Is he that handsome?" she asked.

"Handsome? No that word can't be used to describe him. He is godly!" 

"Tia you say that everyday." Avery chuckled.

"Yeah I know but this one is just out of the world, and I think I saw him somewhere."

"Maybe he is a celebrity." Avery said as she kept the cupcakes in the oven to bake. 

"Nah I know all celebrities, he looks more like a businessman." 

Of course Avery thought to herself. The cafe is not popular enough to have celebrities yet...

"Boss, we need a little help with the doughnuts here!" Rodney, another chef called out to her. 

"Coming Rod." She replied. 

"Be quick, I don't want the godly handsome guy to wait." Tia said. 

"As you say ma'am." Avery said giggling. She soon busied herself with all the work and the sweets around here, far from all the trouble and drama she faced at her home. 

But she had no idea that trouble was waiting for her outside the doors....

"Avery!" Tia came back running towards her. "That Godly handsome guy is asking for you!" She said and Avery's eyebrows crashed in confusion.